How do group 2 metals react with dilute acids?

Group 2 metals, also known as alkaline earth metals, react with dilute acids in a characteristic manner. When these metals come into contact with dilute acids, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) or sulfuric acid (H2SO4), they undergo a chemical reaction that results in the formation of a salt and hydrogen gas.

The general reaction can be represented as follows:

[ \text{Metal} + \text{Acid} \rightarrow \text{Salt} + \text{Hydrogen gas} ]

For example, if magnesium, a Group 2 metal, reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid, the reaction is:

[ \text{Mg} + 2\text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{MgCl}_2 + \text{H}_2 \uparrow ]

In this reaction, magnesium chloride (the salt) and hydrogen gas are produced, which is often observable as bubbling or fizzing.

This ability to produce hydrogen gas confirms that the Group 2 metals are indeed reactive with dilute acids, rather than being unreactive or only producing salts without hydrogen gas. Thus, the formation of both a salt and hydrogen gas during the reaction accurately describes the behavior of Group 2 metals